South African private-sector regional airline Airlink and Dubai, United Arab Emirates-based global major carrier Emirates announced on Monday that they had agreed to widen their existing partnership and enter into a codesharing agreement. The codeshare was to be “unilateral”, their press release stated, “across Airlink’s network”. It should be noted that Emirates still has a partnership with State-owned flag carrier South African Airways.

Emirates was resuming its operations to South Africa, to Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban. Under the new agreement with Airlink, Emirates passengers would now be able to transfer to Airlink flights at any of these three airports, with combined tickets and seamless luggage transfers.

“This exciting development is an overwhelming endorsement to Airlink,” highlighted airline CEO and MD Rodger Foster. “We are delighted, honoured and privileged that Emirates Airline has chosen Airlink as its Southern Africa partner. Emirates serves all of our source markets and together we are able to provide vital air access throughout Airlink’s comprehensive network of destinations within Southern Africa, and provide much needed connectivity, linking Africa with the world and the world with Africa. The tourism and air transportation sectors have been hardest hit by the [Covid-19] pandemic and the associated lockdowns and travel bans, and as the world gets vaccinated, we expect the pent-up travel demand will be realised, and more customers will want to visit the special destinations that Airlink offers services to.”

“The expansion of the Emirates-Airlink partnership marks an important step forward in our relationship,” affirmed Emirates chief commercial officer Adnan Kazim. “Our new codeshare agreement enhances our service offering and flexibility for customers travelling beyond our gateways in South and Southern Africa and provides them unparalleled options for leisure destinations.”

Airlink’s network connects 40 destinations in South and Southern Africa. Within South Africa, these include Bloemfontein, George, Hoedspruit, Kimberley, Mthatha, Nelspruit, Pietermaritzburg, Port Elizabeth, Richards Bay, Sishen, Skukuza and Upington. International destinations within the region include Antananarivo, Bulawayo, Dar es Salaam, Entebbe, Gaborone, Harare, Kasane, Livingstone, Lubumbashi, Lusaka, Maputo, Maseru, Maun, Ndola, Pemba, Victoria Falls, Vilanculos, Walvis Bay and Windhoek.

“We are committed to growing our operations in South Africa, and with the strong connection opportunities being provided collectively with Airlink we hope to help jumpstart the recovery of local travel and tourism,” assured Kazim. “Our codeshare partnership with Airlink complements the valuable relationship Emirates has with South African Airways, which we eagerly anticipate to restart once the airline is back in operation.”